'Ah, that I can't explain; but I know this--that people who are really good are generally the last persons to suspect it, and the moment they become aware of it and begin to think how good they are, and how bad everybody else is, why, somehow or other, their goodness crumbles away and leaves only a sort of outside shell behind it. And--I'm very old, and of course I may be mistaken--but I think (I only say I _think_, mind) that a little girl so young as you must have some faults hidden about her somewhere, and that perhaps on the whole she would be better employed in trying to find them out and cure them before she attempted to correct those of other people. And I'm sure it can't be good for any child to be always seeing herself in a little picture, just as she likes to fancy other people see her. Very many pretty books are written about good little girls, and it is quite true that children may exercise a great influence for good--more than they can ever tell, perhaps--but only just so long as they remain natural and unconscious, and not unwholesome little pragmatical prigesses; for then they make themselves and other people worse than they might have been. But of course, my dear, you never made such a mistake as that!' Priscilla turned very red, and began to scrape one of her feet against the other; she was thinking, and her thoughts were not at all pleasant ones. 'Oh, fairy,' she said at last, 'I'm afraid that's just what I _did_ do. I was always thinking how good I was and putting everybody--papa, mamma, Alick, Betty, Aunt Margarine, Cathie, Belle, and even poor cousin Dick--right! I have been a horrid little hateful prig, and that's why all the jewels were rubbish. But, oh, shall I have to go on talking sham diamonds and things all the rest of my life?' 'That,' said the fairy, 'depends entirely on yourself. You have the remedy in your own hands--or lips.' 'Ah, you mean I needn't talk at all? But I must--sometimes. I couldn't bear to be dumb as long as I lived--and it would look so odd, too!' 'I never said you were not to open your lips at all. But can't you try to talk simply and naturally--not like little girls or boys in any story-books whatever--not to "show off" or improve people; only as a girl would talk who remembers that, after all, her elders are quite as likely as she is to know what they ought or ought not to do and say?' 'I shall forget sometimes, I know I shall!' said Priscilla disconsolately. 'If you do, there will be something to remind you, you know. And by and by, perhaps, as you grow up you may, quite by accident, say something sincere and noble and true--and then a jewel will fall which will really be of value!' 'No!' cried Priscilla, 'no, _please_! Oh, fairy, let me off that! If I _must_ drop them, let them be false ones to punish me--not real. I don't want to be rewarded any more for being good--if I ever am really good!'